§ Sir J. Duncanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking, in view of the increase in crime, to provide more accommodation for the detention and rehabilitation of offenders.
§ Mr. MaclayDuring the past two and a half years there has been a steep and continuous rise in the number of offenders committed to prisons and Borstals in Scotland, and there is no sign of this trend being halted. To cope with it, and also to enable modern methods of penal treatment to be increasingly applied, more accommodation is urgently needed.
Major works already completed or proceeding include:
24Wthe extensive adaptation of a building at Perth to accommodate 70 male Borstal inmates;the extension of the female Borstal institution at Greenock to accommodate 10 additional inmates;the renovation of a disused hall at Perth prison to accommodate 130 additional prisoners;the renovation of a disused hall at Peterhead prison to accommodate 110 additional prisoners;alterations to Penninghame open prison to provide for 20 additional prisoners; andthe provision of 56 additional staff quarters.To meet present and known needs, however, the building programme must be greatly expanded, and plans are being made to provide detention centre accommodation for about 250 young male offenders; remand centre accommodation sufficient to take all young men awaiting trial or sentence; about 150 extra places for boys committed to approved schools; additional Borstal accommodation, open and closed, for about 260 young male offenders; and additional secure accommodation for 150 male prisoners.
In addition the modernisation of existing institutions and staff quarters, and the provision of new staff quarters, will be accelerated.